Turkey’s sports minister lashed out on Monday at
moves by the football authorities to punish two top
Ivorian club players for paying homage to Nelson
Mandela.
Didier Drogba and Emmanuel Eboue have been
threatened with disciplinary action by the Turkish
Football Federation for violating a ban on wearing
political slogans on T-shirts – triggering outrage on
Twitter.
Turkish Sports Minister Suat Kilic called on the
federation to review its decision against the two
star players with Istanbul giant Galatasaray.
Eboue and Drogba
“I don’t find it a healthy choice in terms of Turkey’s
image abroad and the two footballers’ (freedom of)
expression,” he said.
Drogba removed his club shirt after a match Friday
against SB Elazigspor to reveal a T-shirt that read
“Thank You Madiba”, using Mandela’s clan name.
Teammate Eboue also honoured the South African
anti-apartheid hero who died on Thursday with a
T-shirt that said “Rest in Peace Nelson Mandela”.
The federation defended its decision to summon
the two players, saying they had not sought
permission for their action.
But the move caused fury among scores of Twitter
users, with some accusing the body of “fascism”.
“There’s a minute of silence for Mandela before a
match in Britain but in Turkey, there are fines,” said
one tweet signed by Erce Sahin.
Another Twitter user with the handle Hevallo, said:
“TURKISH FASCISM in FOOTBALL like everywhere in
Turkey!”
The minister also blasted a federation decision last
week to initiate disciplinary procedures against a
Turkish club whose footballers wore T-shirts
paying homage to the founder of modern Turkey,
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
Mandela: I’ll do it again — Drogba
Drogba has responded to threats by the Turkish FA
to sanction him and his compatriot over their
tributes to Mandela by posting a picture montage
on Instagram including a photo of his own meeting
with the former South Africa president.
“I’d be very interested to see your comments on
this…but I’m sorry if I had to I would do it again
and again. Not because of political beliefs but
because this man inspired me, a country, a
continent, the world!!!!! Thanks again Madiba


www.vanguardngr.com/2013/12/minister-slams-mandela-t-shirt-action/